Pressure Equalizing Device for Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator comprises an enclosure that is cooled below a predetermined temperature, a refrigeration circuit that keeps the temperature of the enclosure below the predetermined temperature, a door that provides access into the enclosure and a pressure equalizing device that equalizes the pressure inside the enclosure with the pressure outside the enclosure. The pressure equalizing device comprises a communication path that fluid-communicates the inside of the enclosure with the outside of the enclosure, and a valve device that opens or closes the communication path. The valve device opens the communication path when the air pressure outside the enclosure is greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure by a predetermined value. The valve device comprises a pivoting plate that is pivoted around a horizontal axis, and an opening that is open to air outside the enclosure. The pivoting plate covers the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pressure equalizing device for a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pressure equalizing device that restores pressure equilibrium between the refrigerator and the ambient air quickly with a simple and easy to clean mechanism.

When a user tries to open a refrigerator door right after she closes the door, since the air inside the refrigerator contracts due to heat removal even to the degree of compressing the gasket of the door, it is very hard to reopen the door due to the pressure difference. There are prior art devices that equalize the pressure inside and outside the refrigerator thereby eliminating the negative pressure inside the refrigerator. Prior art pressure equalizing devices took 20-30 seconds before a user can reopen the door without excessive force.

An effective and easy-to-maintain pressure equalizing device for a refrigerator has long been in need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.

An objective of the invention is to provide an effective pressure equalizing device for a refrigerator that can eliminate negative pressure inside the refrigerator instantly.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a pressure equalizing device for a refrigerator that has simple structure and easy to clean.

In order to achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a refrigerator comprising an enclosure that is cooled below a predetermined temperature, a refrigeration circuit that keeps the temperature of the enclosure below the predetermined temperature, a door that provides access into the enclosure and a pressure equalizing device that equalizes the pressure inside the enclosure with the pressure outside the enclosure.

The pressure equalizing device comprises a communication path that fluid-communicates the inside of the enclosure with the outside of the enclosure, and a valve device that opens or closes the communication path. The valve device opens the communication path when the air pressure outside the enclosure is greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure by a predetermined value, and closes the communication path when the air pressure outside the enclosure is not greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure by the predetermined value.

The valve device comprises a pivoting plate that is pivoted around a horizontal axis, and an opening that is open to air outside the enclosure. The pivoting plate covers the opening when the air pressure outside the enclosure is not greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure by the predetermined value.

The valve device further comprises a slanted plate on which the pivoting plate abuts. The opening is provided on the slanted plate.

The valve device further comprises a housing that receives the slanted plate and the pivoting plate. The housing is attached on the enclosure. The housing comprises one or more vent holes that communicate the opening with the outside air.

The housing comprises an access opening. The valve device further comprises a cap that closes the access opening.

The housing comprises a hollow cylindrical body. The access opening is provided at one end of the cylindrical body. The access opening comprises a male thread that engages with a female thread that is provided on the cap.

The communication path is connected to the slanted plate.

The pivoting plate comprises a slot. The slanted plate comprises a hook that is inserted into the slot.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) Pressure equalizing is done almost instantly (within 2 or 3 seconds); (2) loss of cooled air is minimized since the valve device is closed by gravity immediately after pressure equalization; (3) storing food inside the refrigerator is facilitated since the door can be easily reopened as required; (4) dust entry is prevented as the pressure equalizing device is installed on the side wall of the refrigerator and the vent holes are positioned downward; and (5) the pressure equalizing device does not use screws and is easy to assemble and disassemble thereby facilitating cleaning.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing that a valve device of a pressure equalizing device is closed;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing that the valve device is open;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator on which the pressure equalizing device is installed; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a pivoting plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 3 shows a refrigerator 10 comprising an enclosure 12 that is cooled below a predetermined temperature, a refrigeration circuit 14 that keeps the temperature of the enclosure below the predetermined temperature, one or more door 16 that provides access into the enclosure 12 and a pressure equalizing device 18 that equalizes the pressure inside the enclosure 12 with the pressure outside the enclosure 12.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the pressure equalizing device 18 comprises a communication path 20 that fluid-communicates the inside of the enclosure 12 with the outside of the enclosure 12, and a valve device 22 that opens or closes the communication path 20. The valve 22 device opens the communication path 20 when the air pressure outside the enclosure 12 is greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure 12 by a predetermined value (refer to FIG. 2), and closes the communication path 20 when the air pressure outside the enclosure 12 is not greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure 12 by the predetermined value (refer to FIG. 1).

The valve device 22 comprises a pivoting plate 24 that is pivoted around a horizontal axis 26, and an opening 28 that is open to air outside the enclosure 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the pivoting plate 24 covers the opening 28 when the air pressure outside the enclosure 12 is not greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure 12 by the predetermined value. The predetermined value is the equilibrium between pressure applying on the pivoting plate 24 and the weight of the pivoting plate 24.

The valve device 22 further comprises a slanted plate 30 on which the pivoting plate 24 abuts. The opening 28 is provided on the slanted plate 30. As shown in FIG. 2, if the pressure difference overcomes the weight of the pivoting plate 24, such as when the air inside the enclosure 12 is cooled down and thus the air pressure inside the enclosure 12 is low, the pivoting plate 24 pivots upward and away from the slanted plate 30 and the opening 28 is not covered by the pivoting plate 24.

The valve device 22 further comprises a housing 32 that receives the slanted plate 30 and the pivoting plate 24. The housing 32 is attached on the enclosure 12. The housing 32 comprises one or more vent holes 34 that communicate the opening 28 with the outside air.

The housing 32 comprises an access opening 36. The valve device 22 further comprises a cap 38 that closes the access opening 36.

The housing 32 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 40. The access opening 36 is provided at one end of the cylindrical body 40. The access opening 36 comprises a male thread 42 that engages with a female thread 44 that is provided on the cap 38.

The communication path 20 is connected to the slanted plate 30.

FIG. 4 shows that the pivoting plate 24 comprises a slot 46. The slanted plate 30 comprises a hook 48 that is inserted into the slot 46.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 

1. A refrigerator comprising: a) an enclosure that is cooled below a predetermined temperature; b) a refrigeration circuit that keeps the temperature of the enclosure below the predetermined temperature; c) a door that provides access into the enclosure; and d) a pressure equalizing device that equalizes the pressure inside the enclosure with the pressure outside the enclosure; wherein the pressure equalizing device comprises a communication path that fluid-communicates the inside of the enclosure with the outside of the enclosure, and a valve device that opens or closes the communication path, wherein the valve device opens the communication path when the air pressure outside the enclosure is greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure by a predetermined value, wherein the valve device closes the communication path when the air pressure outside the enclosure is not greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure by the predetermined value.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the valve device comprises a pivoting plate that is pivoted around a horizontal axis, and an opening that is open to air outside the enclosure, wherein the pivoting plate covers the opening when the air pressure outside the enclosure is not greater than the air pressure inside the enclosure by the predetermined value.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the valve device further comprises a slanted plate on which the pivoting plate abuts, wherein the opening is provided on the slanted plate.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the valve device further comprises a housing that receives the slanted plate and the pivoting plate, wherein the housing is attached on the enclosure, wherein the housing comprises one or more vent holes that communicate the opening with the outside air.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises an access opening, wherein the valve device further comprises a cap that closes the access opening.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a hollow cylindrical body, wherein the access opening is provided at one end of the cylindrical body, wherein the access opening comprises a male thread that engages with a female thread that is provided on the cap.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the communication path is connected to the slanted plate.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the pivoting plate comprises a slot, wherein the slanted plate comprises a hook that in inserted into the slot.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the communication path is connected to the slanted plate.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the pivoting plate comprises a slot, wherein the slanted plate comprises a hook that in inserted into the slot.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the communication path is connected to the slanted plate.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the pivoting plate comprises a slot, wherein the slanted plate comprises a hook that is inserted into the slot. 